A new winter festival is on the horizon for Launceston, promising to invigorate the local scene and draw attendees from across the region. The Island Escape Winter Festival will take place from July 3 to July 5, 2026, at the Inveresk precinct. Developed by the team behind the popular BeerFest, this event aims to celebrate the unique charm of winter in Tasmania.
Festival directors Stacy File and James Harding shared with The Examiner that major announcements regarding the festival will be unveiled later this month. They described the festival as a “celebration of everything that makes winter here so special,” hinting at a diverse range of activities and experiences designed to engage all attendees.
Among the offerings, the festival will feature fireside feasts hosted by celebrity chefs, silent discos held in igloo domes, and a blend of artistic displays including ice-sculpting exhibitions and light shows. The event will also host mead tasting sessions within saunas, storytelling around firepits, and an ice skating rink, creating a multisensory experience.
Families will find dedicated activities, including a kids’ zone and workshops led by Interweave Arts and the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. The festival is designed to cater to a wide audience, ensuring that there is “something for everyone.”
This initiative has garnered significant support, receiving a $30,000 sponsorship grant from the City of Launceston council, as part of a funding allocation for three special events in October. The festival is also backed by Events Tasmania. In their application for funding, the organizers indicated plans for satellite events surrounding the main festival dates, alongside themed itineraries aimed at benefiting the broader region.
Early bird tickets for the festival will become available in December, with registration set to open in late November.
In addition to the winter festival, the council has allocated funds to other major events. The Judo Australia National Championships and the under-16 and under-18 Australian Tennis Championships also received financial support, with both events marking a return to Launceston after decades. The judo championships last took place at the Silverdome in 2005, while similar tennis championships have not been held in the state since the 1990s.
The total funding for these initiatives amounted to $75,000, exceeding the initial budget of $64,000. The additional funds were drawn from lapsed agreements totaling $100,000 from expired contracts with the Ten Days on the Island festival and the now-defunct Mona Foma festival.
As Launceston gears up for this new winter celebration, the community looks forward to the vibrant activities and opportunities that the Island Escape Winter Festival will bring, fostering local engagement and tourism in the colder months.
